The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has enforced Graded Response Action Plan-4 (GRAP-4) restrictions across the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) to tackle the ongoing deterioration of air quality in the city.
In a detailed post shared on X (formerly Twitter), the civic body said that it has released a list of 28 rules, including strict limits on construction work that could worsen pollution levels.
“Various measures are being taken by BMC to control air pollution in the MMR region (Mumbai city and suburbs). Guidelines have also been issued for air pollution control,” the civic body wrote in its photo post.
Neighbourhoods like Mazgaon, Malad and Deonar have seen poor air quality throughout November, and at times even slipped into the “very poor” category (AQI between 301 and 400), which is why they are among the key focus areas.
Interestingly, unlike Delhi’s GRAP-4 restrictions, Mumbai’s rules mainly focus on construction sites, small industrial units and related activities.
GRAP 4: What’s allowed and what’s not
Under GRAP-4, construction work and activities that generate large amounts of dust will be stopped in the worst-hit zones. Regular road cleaning and dust control work will be carried out especially in places where AQI has remained poor – including Borivali East, Malad West, Chakala (Andheri East), Deonar, Mazgaon, Navy Nagar, Mulund West and Powai.
Industries that add to pollution will be fined if they violate the rules.
95 inspection teams have already checked 70 construction sites across the city and have issued stop-work notices to 53 of them after they failed to follow BMC’s pollution guidelines. These teams will continue to monitor emissions and violations, according to a report by Hindustan Times.
Old chimneys to be removed
As part of the new steps, bakery owners have been told to remove old chimneys, and marble-cutting units in Andheri East’s Chakala area have been instructed to shift to cleaner practices.
Additionally, about 450 junior supervisors from the BMC’s solid waste department have been given the power to fine people. Anyone caught dumping construction debris on roads or burning plastic and waste will face strict penalties.